Levi Leaves All to Follow Jesus - Luke 5:28

The beloved physician Luke shared how Jesus, “went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me”, and in chapter five and verse twenty-eight of his book Luke shares how Levi, “left all, rose up, and followed him” where we read:

And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

The verse reads, “And he left all, rose up, ...” Luke began with the words, “And he left all” or “and Levi departed from, abandoned and forsook each, every, the whole and everything”, “and rose up” which means “and raised up from his seated position”. Luke shared how Levi “forsook” everything within his tax-collection seat by rising up from his seated position

The verse continues, “... and followed him.” Luke added the words, “and followed” which means “joined or came alongside Jesus as his attendant or disciple” “him” or “Jesus”. Luke shared how after Levi forsook everything, raised from his seat and began to be Jesus' disciple.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we see how Levi responded to Jesus' request. Not only did he forsake everything within his job, but he raised himself from his seated position and began to be Jesus' “disciple and attendant”. This “calling” may have seemed out of sorts for most because “tax-collectors” were well-known sinners, and they were hated by most people. Yet, Jesus called Him. Jesus did not “call the righteous” but “sinners” to “follow” Him, and because “there is none righteous, no not one” (See Romans 3:10), He extends an invitation to everyone who will leave everything and “follow Him”. God loves people, and anything they have has been given by Him. Those who “forsake all” leave that which has been provided for them, and they only better their positions when they “rise up” and become His “disciples”.

Next time Luke shares how, “Levi made him a great feast”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".